Fans of Days of our Lives are feeling the shock after several major actors have either been let go or have chosen to walk away from the NBC soap opera in recent months. Freddie Smith (Sonny Kiriakis), who falls into the former category and will be making his final appearance on the show this autumn, says it looks like DAYS is really trying to "shake things up."
In a new interview with Soaps, the actor touches on the behind-the-scenes decisions that have resulted in the loss of actors like Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez), Chandler Massey (Will Horton), and himself.
"I've been able to look back and, especially seeing the shakeup that's going on over there, I think that these were very tough behind-the-scenes discussions between the network or the producers," Smith reveals. "I'm not sure, but it looks like they are shaking things up. I like to look at it as they're resting our characters and that we could potentially come back. I feel fortunate to never have been rested in nine years, so that's pretty amazing. I did take that break in 2015 where it was my choice, but I think that's what it was -- that they had to make a decision."
As Soap Central previously reported, Smith and Massey will be exiting the canvas in mid-September. Their exit storyline has successfully been kept under wraps, and therefore, Smith isn't revealing anything about how Sonny and Will leave Salem.
"It's such a big moment. I'm not going to answer that one because it's such a huge moment," he says. "I don't know what I can or cannot share."
Sadly, DAYS fans won't just be saying goodbye to WilSon. In addition to Smith, Massey, and Gering, other actors who are set to leave Salem in the weeks and months ahead include Greg Vaughan (Eric Brady), Kristian Alfonso (Hope Brady), and Kate Mansi (Abigail Deveraux, a role to be resumed by Marci Miller).
What do you think about Freddie Smith's comments regarding DAYS' recent cast cuts? How do you think Will and Sonny will be leaving Salem this September? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
